Backpack dilemma for parents

Parents question why bags with cartoon characters printed on them are sold in stores when such bags are banned in schools.

With the approach of the new academic year, parents are facing the usual problem of submitting to the wishes of their children to buy school bags that have cartoon characters on them and risk having them confiscated due to a ban on such bags in schools.

Many parents are questioning how such bags were allowed into the country and openly sold in stores if they are not allowed in schools, Al-Madinah daily reported.

Um Leena said she shares her children’s happiness when buying school bags, but that happiness goes away when they insist on buying bags with cartoon characters printed on them.

“Why don’t schools send letters to parents at the end of the school year notifying them of next year’s requirements and conditions, as this will give parents plenty of time to persuade their children not to buy bags with such pictures on them,” she said.

Fatimah Al-Shahrani said nearly all school bags being sold in stores have cartoon characters on them. She said schools should have informed parents ahead of the new school year of such a ban, and before parents spend money buying bags that will be rejected by schools.

School principal Sameera Hashim said it has become common knowledge that school bags with cartoon characters on them are not allowed into schools, but she said parents were correct in asking for a list of banned items well in time.

She believes schools should print such a list and post it on the school walls and gates so that parents can find out about any banned items in advance.